Universal mirroring receiver

ABSTRACT

A screen mirroring receiving device capable of receiving mirroring streams comprising audio-visual data, the mirroring streams conforming to different vendor-provided screen-mirroring protocols, and capable of processing the mirroring streams for audio-visual rendering.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/803,048, filed on Feb. 27, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/520,835, filed on Apr. 20, 2017, now U.S.Pat. No. 10,587,909, which is a national stage application under 35U.S.C. 371 of International Application No. PCT/IB2015/002155, filedOct. 22, 2015, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/067,845, filed Oct. 23, 2014,incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to wireless mirroring from multiple types ofdevice platforms (operating systems) via multiple types of mirroringprotocols to a single receiver capable of receiving mirroring streamsfrom devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The limitation with current mirroring technologies is that heterogeneousoperating system platforms (e.g., Apple®, Google® Android™, Microsoft®Windows®) are unable to mirror content to a single content receiver.Apple® iOS® mobile computing devices can use the AirPlay® protocol tomirror content to devices such as the Apple TV, which can be connectedto a screen such as a TV. Similarly, other device platforms (e.g.Android, Windows) can currently make use of technologies such asChromecast, Google Cast™, Miracast®, DNLA, Mirrorop and Airtame toachieve mirroring for their relevant platforms.

It is commonly known that people often need to present content fromtheir computing devices. A typical example of content presentation is auser with his or her computer/laptop connected to a projector in ameeting room, classroom or any type of venue that has an externaldisplay. The user has the need to show others, or generally visualize,the screen contents of their device on an external display. An externaldisplay can be a projector or a TV or any device connectable to alaptop/computer. This situation requires the laptop/computer to bephysically connected with a cable. In other cases the receiver or“receiving device” may be built in/embedded in a TV or projector, or ina dongle running receiver software. When many people are presenting,switching from one user to another requires the cable to be disconnectedfrom one laptop/computer and connected to the laptop/computer of theperson who needs to present content. This method of presenting isconsidered suboptimal for the following reasons: disconnecting andconnecting are physical operations, and the sound from the device is notprojectable to the external display. In general, these problems aresolved with a technology called screen mirroring.

Mirroring is an umbrella term for a group of wireless technologies thatfacilitate the projection of what you see and hear on a sending deviceor computer to a receiving device's display and speakers.

Apple has implemented a mirroring solution through its AirPlay® protocol(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AirPlay#AirPlay_Mirroring). Apple'siPhone® (as of version 4S) and iPad® mobile devices (both of which runthe iOS operating system) are capable AirPlay sending devices andApple's Apple TV® digital media extender is a capable receiver. Apple TVis a hardware solution while other receivers, such as AirServer, can dothe same as a software solution. AirPlay requires the sending andreceiving devices to be connected to the same wireless network in orderto work.

Other vendors that utilize Microsoft Windows or Google Android operatingsystems are making use of different solutions such as Miracast(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracast) or Chromecast(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromecast). To mirror devices from thesevendors, one needs a Miracast or Chromecast capable sending device suchas an Android mobile computing device (e.g. a mobile phone or tablet),or a Windows device, such as a mobile phone, tablet, laptop or desktopcomputer, and a Miracast/Chromecast capable receiver. Such receivers canbe a Miracast/Chromecast dongle (a small device plugged into the HDMIport of a TV set) or a TV set with a built-in Miracast receiver.Miracast does not require the sending device and the receiver to beconnected the same wireless network in order to work. Using Miracast,one can simply mirror from the sending device to the receiving devicedirectly.

Both Apple TV and typical Miracast receiving devices only allow for onedevice to send to the receiver at each time. There exists no solutionthat allows an AirPlay sending device and a Miracast sending device tobe connected to the same receiver at the same time. This is becausethere exists no receiver capable of receiving mirroring from multipleheterogeneous platforms simultaneously. This requires a user to decidewhether to mirror only Apple iOS devices using an AirPlay receiver oronly Miracast capable sending devices using a Miracast receiver. Thedownside of this is that users with Miracast capable sending devices areexcluded from mirroring if one has chosen to use an AirPlay basedreceiver, and vice versa.

There is a need for a device which allows a single content receiver toreceive mirroring streams from multiple heterogeneous platforms. Whilemany industries permit their people to “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) towork, the lack of a receiver capable of handling heterogeneous mirroringstreams means that not all devices can be used equally and effectively.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a software-based solution which receivesmultiple simultaneous device connections with the ability to mirror thestreams to an external display. The present invention provides theability to mirror multiple heterogeneous platform technologies, thusenabling reception of mirrored content from those platformssimultaneously, including the ability for many devices to be connectedat the same time. Users/owners of heterogeneous computing devices willbe able to mirror content (participate) simultaneously (collaborate andcompare), thereby eliminating the limitation currently present to usersof heterogeneous computing devices. As an example, in a classroomsituation, all users are able to mirror content to a projectorregardless of their choice of computing device and operating system. Thepresent invention enables users to truly bring their own device, ordevice of choice, to a sharing session, and lifts the limitation ofrequiring a specific device platform to participate. As manufacturers ofdevice platforms all aim at making their platforms in such a way thatcompetitors in that area are excluded, the present invention eliminatesthose restrictions by providing the ability to simultaneously mirrorcontent from various technologies provided by platform manufacturers ina single receiver accepting heterogeneous platforms.

In a first embodiment, the invention is directed to a receiver forheterogeneous platforms including is first protocol handler, and secondprotocol handler, first protocol handler video decoder, second protocolhandler video decoder, demultiplexer, audio renderer, video renderer anda video layout manager. The video layout manager consists of an imagepositioning module; a sealing module and an image enhancement module.The present embodiment includes a connecting means to connect each ofthe components.

In another embodiment, the invention is directed to a method forcombining “transmitted data”/“network packets” provided by platformmanufacturers into a single receiver accepting mirroring data fromheterogeneous platforms and protocols. The method includes thesequential steps of preparing the receiver of the present invention asprodded in the previous embodiment. After preparation of the receiver,the method continues with the receiving of at least two video signalsand at least two audio signals from the heterogeneous platforms by thereceiver. The video signals that are received from at least twoheterogeneous platforms are synchronized with their associated audiosignals. The method concludes by simultaneously sending the synchronizedvideo signals and audio signals to available output devices (i.e. videorenderer and audio renderer).

In yet another embodiment, the invention is directed tocomputer-readable medium storing software that combines “transmitteddata”/“network packets” provided by platform manufacturers into a singlereceiver accepting from heterogeneous platforms. The software includesexecutable code that receives at least two video signals from theheterogeneous platforms and receives at least two audio signals from theheterogeneous platforms, and executable code that synchronizes at leasttwo video signals and audio signals from heterogeneous platforms in thereceiver. Executable code directs a synchronized signal from at leasttwo video signals from heterogeneous platforms in the receiver to avideo renderer (such as a video card). Thereafter, executable codesimultaneously distributes the synchronized signal from at least twoaudio signals to a sound renderer (such as a sound card).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the present invention, which receives inputfrom a first and second protocol signal;

FIG. 2 illustrates the receiver receiving signals via multiple protocolsand combining them into a single video and audio stream to be renderedby a receiver's audio and video renderers; and

FIG. 3 illustrates the simultaneous multiple video handling of thereceiver.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to betaken as a limitation on the present invention. The terminology includesthe words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words ofsimilar import. The embodiments discussed herein are not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed.These embodiments are chosen and described to best explain the principleof the invention and its application and practical use, and to enableothers skilled in the art to best utilize the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, in a first embodiment the invention is directed toa device of the present invention illustrated in relation to theincoming signals and displays. As illustrated, the receiver 10 providesthe transformation of the two signals, as illustrated for examplepurposes, one from an AirPlay capable device and one from a Miracastcapable device, for presentation on any output device receiving the“mirrored platforms”. However, one skilled in the art would appreciatethat the receiver 10 could handle multiple signals in an amount greaterthan two.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in a first embodiment, the invention isdirected to a receiver 10 for heterogeneous platforms including a firstprotocol handler 12A and a second protocol handler 12B; as illustratedin the present embodiment “AirPlay Protocol Handler” and “MiracastProtocol Handler” respectively. The inclusion of additionalheterogeneous platforms would require additional protocol handlers. Aseparate protocol handler for each new protocol is required as eachprotocol can differ significantly, for example in how it transportsaudio and video. Some protocols transport it “joined” or “multiplexed”using the same transport mechanism (as in the case of Miracast) whileothers (such as AirPlay) use separate transport mechanisms for audio andvideo. The protocol handlers 12A and 12B include unique software codethat identifies what protocol is being transmitted and selects theappropriate conversation mode, similar to a person hearing a languageand switching to that language in order to converse. The code supports“conversation” with the remote device via the protocol. One skilled inthe art will appreciate that the protocols (AirPlay and Miracast) are“spoken languages”; each protocol is a type of a “spoken language”. Muchlike a language is native to a person “spoken language”; a person canlearn other languages (non-native) and can therefore speak more than onelanguage. A “spoken language” is a protocol, both native andnon-native”; for illustration AirPlay is from Apple™ and Miracast isfrom Wi-Fi Alliance™.

In the present invention, the software has the ability to 1) recognizethe language (protocol) of each incoming signal, and 2) adjust (based onthe protocol) to provide the necessary sequential steps to support theresultant “mirroring” from multiple sending protocols. The core of thisinvention is to mirror signal from multiple senders. However, oneskilled in the art would recognize there is nothing that would preventthe device from directing its output to multiple recipients. The conceptof the present invention includes mirroring to multiple recipients asappreciated by the scope of the information in this document.

The first protocol handler 12A emits a video stream to a first protocolhandler video decoder 14A, and an audio stream to an audio decoder 15Aconnected to the first protocol handler 12A's output, “Audio+time sync”.Therefore, the audio and video have been separated and have associatedtime synchronization information. The time synchronization is then usedby an internal clock of the computing device running the presentinvention, which ensures that the video and audio is correctlysynchronized when it is processed by the video and audio renderers (e.g.displayed on a screen or played in speakers). As illustrated, both audiostreams go through the audio renderer; as would all other audio fromadditional protocols if included.

The second protocol handler 12B emits a multiplexed signal to ademultiplexer 18. The multiplexed signal contains potentially multiplestreams, normally an audio stream and a video stream. A “demultiplexer”is a module that separates an input signal into separate data streams. Ademultiplexer selects one of several analog or digital input signals andforwards the selected input signal into a single line. Each “parcel” ofdata, being either a multiplexed audio or video frame within themultiplexed signal, will have an identifier specifying which of thesestreams it belongs to. An “Audio decoder” module 15B connected to thedemultiplexor 18 “output” labeled “Audio+time sync” is illustrated. Asillustrated, the paths of the signal for AirPlay and Miracast aredifferent because each protocol can transport audio and video eitherthrough a single transport mechanism (e.g. Miracast) or use separatetransport mechanism for audio and video (e.g. Airplay). In the case of asingle transport mechanism, a demultiplexer is needed to separate theaudio and the video into two streams.

The demultiplexer 18 emits a video stream to a second protocol handlervideo decoder 14B and an audio stream to the audio decoder 15B which isthen sent to the audio renderer 16. The first protocol handler videodecoder 14A and second protocol handler video decoder 14B each submit astream to a video layout manager 20.

Referring to FIG. 3, the video layout manager 20 receives two signals(each signal containing video frames) but emits only one. As a unit, thevideo layout manager 20 integrates multiple components including animage positioning module 112 which receives a video stream from thefirst protocol handler video decoder 14A, and a video stream from thesecond protocol handler video decoder 14B. A scaling module 114 and animage enhancement module 116 receive the single emitted stream from theimage positioning module 112.

The receiver of the present invention recognizes the display area of a“viewing device”, e.g. TV or monitor, etc., that is available to displaythe combined (single stream) final image. The image positioning module112 arranges the layout of the input video signals so that they use theavailable space (the horizontal and vertical resolution of the outputvideo signal) efficiently. In the case of two devices, on a normalmonitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio, one video signal will be rendered onthe left and the other on the right. If a third device joins, eithereach device will be displayed on the same row or a new row might beadded with two signals being displayed in the first row (one to theleft, the other to the right) and the third signal displayed in thesecond row. The algorithm of the software regards the input signal ashaving a square resolution (using the greater of width or height) so asto allow the device to rotate on screen freely, without causing otherdevice display areas to move in the final output.

As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the single emitted stream from the imagepositioning module 112 to the scaling module 114 has “position optimizedfull resolution image frames” and is emitted thereafter to the imageenhancement module 116. Collectively, the image positioning module 112,sealing module 114 and image enhancement module 116 are referred to asthe “video layout manager”, best illustrated in FIG. 3. The protocolhandlers 12A, 12B inform the image positioning module 112 when a newconnection has been made by signaling it and passing it the resolutionof the new video stream. The protocol handlers 12A, 12B also inform theimage positioning module 112 when a device is disconnected. Theseconnect and disconnect events cause a new layout to be made forpositioning the incoming video streams in the final display.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the single emitted stream from the videodisplay manager 20 is directed to the video renderer 22.

As discussed, one skilled in the art would recognize the presentembodiment illustrates two incoming connections, but could includemultiple incoming connections, allowing the receiver to act as a conduitfor the streams of an unlimited number of devices.

The invention will now be described in additional embodiments whereinlike reference numbers are meant to illustrate like features.

As best illustrated in FIG. 2, in another embodiment, the invention isdirected to a method for combining “transmitted data”/“network packets”provided by platform manufacturers into a single receiver accepting fromheterogeneous platforms. The method including the sequential steps ofpreparing the receiver of the previous embodiment. After preparation ofthe receiver, the method combines by receiving at least two videosignals from the heterogeneous platforms by the receiver and receivingat least two audio signals from the heterogeneous platforms. The atleast two video signals from heterogeneous platforms are synchronizedwith their audio signals in the receiver, wherein the synchronizedsignals are directed from at least two video signals and audio signalsfrom heterogeneous platforms in the receiver to a video renderer and asound renderer. The method concludes by simultaneously distributing thesynchronized video signals and audio signals to available renderers(e.g. display, connected projector, speakers, and headphones).

In yet another embodiment, the invention is directed tocomputer-readable medium storing software that combines “transmitteddata”/“network packets” provided by platform manufacturers into a singlereceiver accepting from heterogeneous platforms. The software includesexecutable code that receives at least two video signals from theheterogeneous platforms by the receiver and receives at least two audiosignals from the heterogeneous platforms. The executable codesynchronizes the video signals and audio signals from heterogeneousplatforms in the receiver and directs synchronized signals from the atleast two video signals from heterogeneous platforms in the receiver toa video renderer (such as a video card). The executable codesimultaneously distributes the synchronized signals from at least twoaudio signals to a sound renderer (such as a sound card).

EXAMPLES

As discussed herein and best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, in anon-limiting, example, the receiver 10 provides the transformation ofthe two signals, one from AirPlay and one from Miracast, forpresentation on any device to receive the “mirrored platforms”. Withinthe receiver 10, the method has multiple steps directed by software codeexecuted on a computing device such as a PC, Mac, computing stick or anyplatform capable of executing computer code to perform thistransformation. The present invention provides a receiver that iscapable of accepting micro ring from any type of device independent ofits type. Thus, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the present inventionallows a Miracast capable sending device and an AirPlay capable sendingdevice, to mirror to an external display at the same time. The user ofthe receiver is not restricted to mirroring from any particular type ofdevice and therefore, a user can bring their personal device to ameeting, school or any situation where content needs to be shared. Thevideo output signals of the present invention are directed to the“monitor” selected in the software's settings. Typically, this is aphysical device such as a monitor or a projector connected to thecomputer running the software. The audio signals are directed to the“output” device selected in the software's settings. Typically, this isthe speaker output on a sound card.

The present invention provides the capability to interact with multipletypes of devices. More particularly, a user with an iOS device, anotherwith an Android device and yet another one with a Windows device can allat the same tune mirror their content to the external display using thepresent invention; commercially named AirServer Universal™.

Another example of the present invention providing a beneficialsituation would be a classroom setting. A teacher has a device forsharing information with students via mirroring. Students have their owndevices and can share their screen (which may, for example, containsolutions to school assignments) by mirroring at the same time. WithoutAirServer Universal™ they would all need to decide to use one type ofdevice to achieve this. With AirServer Universal™, students can bringtheir device of choice (iOS, Windows, Android based devices) and have norestrictions on who can mirror to the external display.

An additional example can be directed to the field of healthcare,wherein two health care professionals comparing notes on a patient, likex-rays having two different types of devices can now compare these sideby side on a large screen. Further one skilled in the art wouldappreciate the present invention would allow the ability to “overlay”multiple types images, e.g. x-rays, for comparison purposes. Moreparticularly, the present invention would allow the multiple images tobe “overlaid” so as to view progression of a malady by size or time,e.g. progression of tumor size or increase in amount of cells.

Yet another application of the invention is in the field of gaming,wherein two or more players of a computer game can simultaneouslyproject their gaming sessions from their devices for the purpose ofcomparison or entertaining an audience.

A further example can be found in the field of software development,wherein two or more software developers/designers interact to take areference design of user interaction and ensure the design is workingproperly or as designed by mirroring the reference design of one devicenext to an implementation of the same software on another platform. Thisis performed in software quality assurance testing using the presentinvention.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could bemade to the embodiments described above without departing from the broadinventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that thisinvention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but itis intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention as defined by the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A receiver device comprising: a memorystoring instructions that, when executed by the receiver device, causethe receiver device to: receive a first mirroring stream from a firstdevice and a second mirroring stream from a second device, the first andsecond mirroring streams conforming to different vendor-provided screenmirroring protocols; identify, by a first protocol handler, a screenmirroring protocol of the first mirroring stream; deliver a first videodata to a first video decoder, and deliver a first audio data to a firstaudio decoder, said first video data and said first audio dataassociated with said first mirroring stream; decode, by the first videodecoder, said first video data; decode, by the first audio decoder, saidfirst audio data; identify, by a second protocol handler different fromthe first protocol handler, a screen mirroring protocol of the secondmirroring stream, and deliver a first multiplexed audiovisual signal,derived from said second mirroring stream, to a first demultiplexer,wherein the first demultiplexer separates said first multiplexedaudiovisual signal to produce a second video data and a second audiodata; decode, by the second video decoder, said second video data;decode, by the second audio decoder, said second audio data; output, byan audio renderer, a decoded first audio data and a decoded second audiodata: receive, by a video layout manager, a decoded first video data anda decoded second video data; produce, by said video layout manager, asingle combined video stream, comprising said decoded first video dataand said decoded second video data, that is position-optimized andscaled to maximize use of a display area of a viewing device; andtransmit to the viewing device the single combined video stream, inorder for the viewing device to simultaneously display mirrored contentfrom the first mirroring stream and the second mirroring stream.
 2. Thereceiver device of claim 1, wherein said first video data and said firstaudio data are obtained from a second multiplexed audiovisual signal bya second demultiplexer, and wherein said second audiovisual signal isderived from said first mirroring stream.
 3. The receiver device ofclaim 1, wherein rotation of one mirrored content, represented by onedecoded video data, in the display area does not cause repositioning ofanother mirrored content, represented by another decoded video data, inthe display area.
 4. The receiver device of claim 3, wherein an at leastone of said decoded first video data and said decoded second video datain the single combined video stream is configured to have a 1:1 aspectratio.
 5. The receiver device of claim 1, wherein said video layoutmanager determines whether to simultaneously display mirrored contentfrom the first and the second mirroring streams in a single row on theviewing device or in more than one row depending on the maximum use ofthe display area.
 6. The receiver device of claim 1, wherein said memorystores further instructions that, when executed by the receiver device,cause said video layout manager to receive a first orientationinformation associated with said decoded first video data and a secondorientation information associated with said decoded second video data.7. The receiver device of claim 1, wherein the vendor-provided screenmirroring protocols are selected from a group comprising the AirPlayprotocol, the Miracast protocol, and the Google Cast protocol.
 8. Amethod of simultaneously mirroring heterogeneous mirroring streams, themethod comprising the steps of: receiving a first mirroring stream froma first device and a second mirroring stream from a second device, thefirst and second mirroring streams conforming to differentvendor-provided screen mirroring protocols; identifying, by a firstprotocol handler, a screen mirroring protocol of the first mirroringstream; delivering a first video data to a first video decoder, anddelivering a first audio data to a first audio decoder, said first videodata and said first audio data associated with said first mirroringstream; decoding, by the first video decoder, said first video data;decoding, by the first audio decoder, said first audio data;identifying, by a second protocol handler, different from the firstprotocol handler, a screen mirroring protocol of the second mirroringstream, and delivering a first multiplexed audiovisual signal, derivedfrom said second mirroring stream, to a first demultiplexer, wherein thefirst demultiplexer separates said first multiplexed audiovisual signalto produce a second video data and a second audio data; decoding, by thesecond video decoder, said second video data; decoding, by the secondaudio decoder, said second audio data; outputting, by an audio renderer,a decoded first audio data and a decoded second audio data; receiving,by a video layout manager, a decoded first video data and a decodedsecond video data; producing, by said video layout manager, a singlecombined video stream, comprising said decoded first video data and saiddecoded second video data, that is position-optimized and scaled tomaximize use of a display area of a viewing device; and transmitting tothe viewing device the single combined video stream, in order for theviewing device to simultaneously display mirrored content from the firstmirroring stream and from the second mirroring stream.
 9. The method ofclaim 8, wherein said first video data and said first audio data areobtained from a second multiplexed audiovisual signal by a seconddemultiplexer, and wherein said second audiovisual signal is derivedfrom said first mirroring stream.
 10. The method of claim 8, whereinrotation of one mirrored content, represented by one decoded video data,in the display area does not cause repositioning of another mirroredcontent, represented by another decoded video data, in the display area.11. The method of claim 10, wherein an at least one of said decodedfirst video data and said decoded second video data in the singlecombined video stream is configured to have a 1:1 aspect ratio.
 12. Themethod of claim 8, wherein said video layout manager determines whetherto simultaneously display mirrored content from the first and the secondmirroring streams in a single row on the viewing device or in more thanone row depending on the maximum use of the display area.
 13. The methodof claim 8, further comprises the step of receiving, by said videolayout manager, a first orientation information associated with saiddecoded first video data and a second orientation information associatedwith said decoded second video data.
 14. The method of claim 8, whereinthe vendor-provided screen mirroring protocols are selected from a groupcomprising the AirPlay protocol, the Miracast protocol, and the GoogleCast protocol.
 15. A non-transitory computer readable medium havingstored thereon instructions that when executed by a receiver device,cause the receiver device to: receive a first mirroring stream from afirst device and a second mirroring stream from a second device, thefirst and second mirroring streams conforming to differentvendor-provided screen mirroring protocols; identify, by a firstprotocol handler, a screen mirroring protocol of the first mirroringstream; deliver a first video data to a first video decoder, and delivera first audio data to a first audio decoder, said first video data andsaid first audio data associated with said first mirroring stream;decode, by the first video decoder, said first video data; decode, bythe first audio decoder, said first audio data; identify, by a secondprotocol handler different from the first protocol handler, a screenmirroring protocol of the second mirroring stream, and deliver a firstmultiplexed audiovisual signal, derived from said second mirroringstream, to a first demultiplexer, wherein the first demultiplexerseparates said first multiplexed audiovisual signal to produce a secondvideo data and a second, audio data; decode, by the second videodecoder, said second video data: decode, by the second audio decoder,said second audio data; output, by an audio renderer, a decoded firstaudio data and a decoded second audio data; receive, by a video layoutmanager, a decoded first video data and a decoded second video data;produce, by said video layout manager, a single combined video stream,comprising said decoded first video data and said decoded second videodata, that is position-optimized and scaled to maximize use of a displayarea of a viewing device; and transmit to the viewing device the singlecombined video stream, in order for the viewing device to simultaneouslydisplay mirrored content from the first mirroring stream and the secondmirroring stream.
 16. The non-transitory computer readable medium ofclaim 15, wherein said first video data and said first audio data areobtained from a second multiplexed audiovisual signal by a seconddemultiplexer, and wherein said second audiovisual signal is derivedfrom said first mirroring stream.
 17. The non-transitory computerreadable medium of claim 15, wherein rotation of one mirrored content,represented by one decoded video data, in the display area does notcause repositioning of another mirrored content, represented by anotherdecoded video data, in the display area.
 18. The non-transitory computerreadable medium of claim 17, wherein an at least one of said decodedfirst video data and said decoded second video data in the singlecombined video stream is configured to have a 1:1 aspect ratio.
 19. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein said, videolayout manager determines whether to simultaneously display mirroredcontent from the first and the second mirroring streams in a single rowon the viewing device or in more than one row depending on the maximumuse of the display area.
 20. The non-transitory computer readable mediumof claim 15, wherein the stored instructions, when executed by thedevice, cause said video layout manager to receive a first orientationinformation associated with said decoded first video data and a secondorientation information associated with said decoded second video data.